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Clear all filters- The Economist8 min
Can Trump's UFC fight restore his popularity among men? | The Economist
Trump, James Bennett, John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard
The administration's strategy of framing political support for President Trump as a performance of masculinity, exemplified by a scheduled White House UFC event, is failing to retain young male voters who prioritize tangible economic improvements. Despite efforts to rally this demographic through masculine posturing, the lack of a manufacturing renaissance and persistent issues with affordable housing have weakened the correlation between voting for Trump and feelings of manliness. Consequently, the political landscape reflects a deeper structural crisis where the administration's narrative of blaming external forces contradicts the lived reality of job markets and challenges the historical Republican archetype of the protective "daddy party."
- The Economist10 min
What can Donald Trump get from Xi Jinping? | The Economist
Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Jeremy Page, John Prideaux, James Bennet
Donald Trump's administration faces a complex landscape in US-China relations where both nations share AI safety concerns regarding nuclear weapons and cyber fraud despite deep trust deficits and divergent strategic priorities. Simultaneously, geopolitical tensions over Taiwan persist as President Xi Jinping demands extreme caution regarding arms sales following record-breaking approvals, while direct negotiations between the two leaders challenge previous diplomatic assurances. Economic negotiations may pivot toward establishing a Trade Board to resolve export overcapacity, with Beijing likely to authorize purchases of American soybeans and beef only in exchange for tangible reductions in US trade restrictions.
- The Economist6 min
Why does political violence seem to be getting worse in America? | The Economist
During the White House Correspondents' Dinner, 31-year-old Cole Thomas Allen breached the Hilton Hotel security checkpoint to attempt an attack on President Trump before being tackled by police. The incident forced an immediate evacuation of the ballroom, resulted in an officer injury, and triggered a review of Secret Service protocols following the shooter's prior claims of lax access measures. While President Trump utilized the event to advocate for new defensive infrastructure and praised the agency's response, experts warn that despite a perceived rise in political violence, the long-term impact on governance and approval ratings will likely remain tied to broader economic conditions rather than the assault itself.
- The Economist12 min
How Biden can be a global leader
Biden, Donald Trump, John Prideaux
The Biden administration seeks to restore America's diminished global standing by rejoining international bodies like the WHO and Paris Climate Accord while reversing the isolationist "America First" policies of the Trump era. Facing a fragile domestic political landscape with slim congressional majorities, President Biden aims to stabilize diplomatic relations through predictable multilateralism, including a planned global democracy summit and strategic continuity in containing China. Ultimately, the administration recognizes that healing domestic division and successfully navigating congressional hurdles are prerequisites for proving US democratic resilience and rebuilding trust with allies.
- The Economist6 min
Election 2020: How do America's presidential primaries work?
Presidential candidates navigate a fluid nomination landscape defined by primaries and a declining number of caucuses to secure delegates for the summer national convention. The 2020 cycle highlighted the volatility of this process, marked by administrative failures in Iowa and the strategic consolidation of delegate allocation on Super Tuesday, where over one-third of Democratic delegates are now distributed. While conventions typically ratify predetermined outcomes, contested scenarios remain possible through unbound delegate voting, after which the focus shifts immediately to securing the general election.
- The Economist11 min
Election 2020: What could Super Tuesday mean for the future of the Democratic Party?
John Prideaux, Jon Priddow, Charlotte Howard, Jon Fassman
Bernie Sanders' insurgent campaign has capitalized on the collapse of traditional Democratic establishment structures to challenge a fragmented moderate field, effectively reversing the 2008 consensus that party endorsement guarantees delegate success. Despite Joe Biden's decisive South Carolina victory creating a potential two-horse race, a dominant performance by Sanders on Super Tuesday—particularly in California and Texas—could secure an uncatchable delegate lead that forces the party toward a contested convention in Milwaukee. While some donors remain ideologically opposed to the progressive nominee, the shared imperative to defeat Donald Trump is increasingly driving financial support toward Sanders despite the absence of a unified moderate alternative.
- The Economist11 min
How to help America's poor
Idris Kahloun, Lauren Jones, John Prideaux
A recent analysis reveals that the United States relies on an obsolete 55-year-old poverty metric that fails to account for modern expenses like childcare and housing, leaving one in six Americans, particularly children, trapped in geographically concentrated deprivation. Field observations in suburban communities like Waukegan illustrate how the "working poor" face severe instability despite owning assets, as rising costs for diapers, internet, and rent force families into desperate survival strategies. To address these systemic failures, experts propose replacing fragmented subsidies with universal child benefits, a policy shift argued to be both more cost-effective and politically viable than current means-tested approaches.
- The Economist7 min
Who will challenge Donald Trump in 2020?
The 2020 Democratic primary acts as a decisive ideological referendum that will narrow a large field to a nominee by September. Vice President Joe Biden leads as the moderate frontrunner focused on electability, while Senator Bernie Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren compete for progressive voters with distinct policy platforms. Secondary contenders including Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Kamala Harris, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Cory Booker seek to capitalize on the race's central tension between generational change and broad electoral appeal.